Page 65 of Call Out

I’m sorry I haven’t been here in a while. I forgot how peaceful it is by your graveside. I’ve tidied up the old flowers your mom left last week, and I’ll bury this note behind your headstone after it’s written.

Do you know I’m a fully qualified paramedic these days? Who would’ve thought I’d be helping people and not wrestling on the football field? I moved away from Richmond. It was the best decision. Everything in this town reminds me of you. And I met someone.

Hey, do you remember the night we got wasted on your dad's homemade brew and spent the night under the stars in the field by your farm? We talked about how we wanted our lives to pan out. You were in mine, and I was in yours. Neither of us thought it would turn to shit. And it did.

I should’ve turned the car around, Jeff. I’ve regretted that mistake ever since I was told you were gone. Just like that. I got in that car that night with my best friend and woke up the next day as the guy who stole his life.

Punching Ryker in the face might have been for the best. Or maybe you would’ve clipped his temple and killed the douche by accident. Who knows. Fate had a plan that night, and it called for you.

Why the fuck did you grab the wheel, Jeff? You always were a bull-headed sonofabitch. Your right hook was better than mine. But risking our lives for love, that’s… crazy and sort of understandable too.

I forgive you. Whether I can finally forgive myself is a work in progress. Can you forgive me?

I should tell you about Zoe. It’s not good. The woman lost her shit. The drugs and booze warped her brain over time. She was arrested for attempting to kill Vivian in a copycat remake of our accident. Except she drugged my woman and held her at gunpoint. At the start, they thought it was Viv’s fault until I showed them the incriminating evidence.

A few days before the whole shit show unraveled, I replaced the bulb in Viv’s porch light and fixed a spy camera, so she could see who was knocking before opening the door. I hadn’t got around to telling her about the device because I was doing a few extra shifts to raise some cash. At that point, I was saving to buy an engagement ring.

Anyway, it recorded Zoe pushing her way inside Viv’s home with a gun and jabbing Viv in the back on the way out the door. It chills me to think what could’ve happened.

The cops have assured me Zoe will get psychiatric support while she’s locked up. I tried to help her after you died, but she was messed up well before you and her dated.

I actually enjoy my job. Sometimes it’s really intense, but I get to save people, like I wish I could’ve done for you. That’s how I met Viv.

Now I understand how you really felt that night. The anger. The upset. The impulsive behavior. I’d fight to reach my girl too. I’ve fallen in love with a sexy woman who writes a ton of lists, drinks weird scented tea and wears stockings. Kinda perfect, really.

I love her so fucking much it scares me. I’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to Viv for the time we have left on this earth.

She’s with my parents while I’m here with you, talking over wedding plans. Mom hasn’t stopped hinting at babies. I’m not ready for that yet. Maybe one day I’ll be able to think about more responsibility without feeling overwhelmed.

So here it goes. I made you a promise that night under stars when we were sixteen. And now you’re not here to carry out that role.

Jeff, I’m going to ask Johnny if he’ll be the best man at my wedding. He’s a good guy. You’d like him. We’ve become close friends over the past year. Don’t worry, he’s not your replacement. You’ll always be my number one friend.

I miss you.

I know we’ll see each other again one day.

Wherever you are, I hope you're not alone.

I’m not alone anymore.

Please forgive me for taking you away from your woman when all you wanted was her.

If I could change that night, I would.

I’m sorry.

Eternally,

Danny

THE END